2014 February LSAT Instant Recap

We may not know much about the February LSAT, but we do know that it is over.

Today thousands of law school hopefuls filled LSAT testing centers across the country in hopes of earning an LSAT score that will catapult them into law school admission paradise. Were you one of them? What did you think of the February LSAT?

Some early reports have indicated that it was a beast of an LSAT (one Logic Game in particular), but that’s typical of the first batch out of the test centers. As more info about the 2014 February LSAT comes in, this post will be updated.

Remember: LSAC prohibits us from publishing any big specifics from any LSAT, even the undisclosed February LSAT (this includes question content, experimental section identification, etc.). So if your comment is not approved, it most likely violated some kind of rule or was close enough that we didn’t want to risk it.

In general, this is a great place to talk about your LSAT test day experience. How do you think you did? Which sections tripped you up, if any? Did anything crazy happen at your LSAT testing center?

**UPDATE: The words “tiered circular ordering” have been floating around in some reports. Oof.

I’m not certain, but I think there’s a line in Blueprint’s LG book that will have to be edited out due to the 4th game in this LG section… A line about a certain type of problem that hasn’t shown up for a long time. ANYHOO, I was really hoping for a 173 but don’t think I’ll get that unless the curve is SUPER generous.

I had two games, experimental one first and I nailed it, thought for sure I would get 165-170 due to the nature of the lr and lc. Last section I got THE logic games section. I’ve literally taken every practice test from 40-68, and some in the 30s, and that section blew me away. Maybe I was tired. The “rare” question was the least of my troubles. I really hope everyone else had a hard time on that section!

All LSAT’s consist of 2 LR’s, 1 RC and 1 LG sections. Whatever you had in addition to that would be experimental. However, precisely determining which actual section out of the 2/3 was experimental isn’t always possible.

It is possible to find out, but it would require you talking to someone about specifics in their lr sections who had a different experimental section and therefore had only two (counting) lr in their test. As you know that is “not allowed” so I cannot suggest that to you. But that is how you’d figure it out, if it was allowed of course.

I am so happy to have found a place with people that I can relate to, I am in the boat, with apparently most other people, I did really well on the LG practice, but maybe it was the fact that it was our last test and my brain was tired or really the sections did seem unnecessarily difficult- but I was REALLY disappointed with my usual easy point section… everything else seemed ok- but who knows

Dude, I was consistently getting 160s on my practice tests and this test was UNREAL. I had LR RC LR LG LR and the first 3 sections were okay…could’ve been a lot worse, but could’ve been a lot better too. The last RC passage was a beast to get through, but the questions weren’t terrible. The first two logic games were fairly straightforward, but the last two…HOLY CRAP. I was still working on the third one when my proctor called 5 minutes left and rushed through that one to answer the first question on the last LG and then blindly guessed on the other ones because I just didn’t have enough time, and I never have an issue with time on LGs. I sincerely hope the last LR section was experimental because I’m screwed if it wasn’t…it was so bizarre and the questions were so convoluted.

Overall, I felt it was really inconsistent. I flew through some questions (a lot of disagree questions which I was happy about, and relatively few parallel flaw questions) but others ate up a lot of my time so I never felt like I got into a groove with the test. Let’s hope for a sick curve guys!

I had the same setup…the last LR section was the most frustrating. I would read through all five answers and sit there staring because none of the answer choices seemed remotely plausible. I got to #18 when the proctor called 5 minutes. I’d be lucky if I got 15 or 16 right on that section.

I second that thought. I found the first two LR sections relatively straightforward, but the last one was strange starting with the first five questions. Not sure if anyone noticed the same impression right off the bat.

I had the same problem. I could not believe it when they called 5 minutes and I hadn’t even made it to the fourth game. Then when I saw the circle problem I was for sure that this was my experimental section and my 5th section would be another game but, was stuck with another LR.

i am also disappointed that the 5th sec, my second LG was not
the experimental, because I did really well on the first one,
and it is true that it was a little time consuming as a while.
However, I think I did ok on it too, though not perfect. So,
my question is if any one remember how many queations there were
on that very last game. i know i worked three and then ran out of time
and had to randomly bunble the rest, so it is kind of important it there were
5,6 or 7 questions. Please, help! Oh, yes, I do think the RC was
a little hard and the LRs about avarage.

Section 1, RC: I thought the RC was fine except the A and B passage. I got totally lost on it, which sucked. The rest I thought were fine.

I was hoping that the RC would be the experimental at first…

Section 3, LG: It was super easy. Once I got to the 5th section and realized it was also LG my heart sank. It was obvious that LSAT was not going to put a experimental in the 5th section.

Section 2, 4; LR: I did not think that they were that difficult. Clearly the second section was more difficult than the first. It had a lot more hard hitting questions in the beginning, but I thought both sections were doable.

Section 5, LG. I thought it was brutal. I felt like the games were written weirdly and I had issues getting stuck on the 2nd game. I didnt mind the game everyone thought was difficult, it just took a while. If you just set it up as a ordering game you would have been better off. I had to go back to the second game and guess on 4 questions because I ran out of time.

Im frustrated with my performance on the test today. I guess I will have to wait and see what my score is and then most likely retake it in June. I didnt really see anything that I have never seen before. I think I got stuck on a few questions in the section 5 LGs. I didnt understand some of the language that was used. Mayb got into my own head since the first one took longer than usually. Its unfortunate we wont be able to see what we got wrong and right. If I get the score I want I wont care tho.

I had that exact same setup: RC, LR, LG, LR and LG. Felt the same way about the first LG section, though I suspected as soon as we took the break that was the experimental. It just seemed way easier than other game sets I’d done. I thought the RC and two LR sections were fairly straightforward, though maybe I’ll have a different opinion when I get my scores! Section 5 LG seemed pretty normal to me, though I typically only really get to 3 games so I didn’t even do the circular game everyone is talking about. Oh well.

Yeah so…logic games were fun. Didn’t even sniff the last game. Pretty sure I stared at a couple questions for a minute or two thinking “duuurrrrpppp.” Contemplated throwing my test booklet across the room. I never thought I would say this, but I wish I had the mauve dinosaurs today. One LR section had to have been put there to intentionally make me set my head on the desk; quietly pondering why it was I decided to pay for this torture again.

I thought it seemed relatively comparable to practice tests. I didn’t think logic games was as hard as everyone is saying, but that might just be because they are my weakest point and I struggle with them no matter what… I did find RC to be more difficult than usual.

So i had the two lg sections and had to bubble in the last 9 questions on the brutal Lg. so sad :( But I felt like I did pretty strongly on the rest of the test with the execution of the comparative reading passage

So we’ve established that this test has been harder than the last test, which is Dec 2013. Luckily, the last LSAT has the most lenient curve so far. Any predictions as to what the curve for THIS LSAT will be for the 170 and 165 mark?

Wow….My first time sitting for the LSAT and I’m given an LSAT on freakin’ steroids. Definitely much harder than the many practice tests I’ve taken thus far. Thankfully, many schools have extended their Fall 2014 application dates to include June scores. I imagine most will be retaking in June and it just cannot get any harder than 2/8’s LSAT, right?…. ;) *Fingers Crossed* for a very gracious curve!

Alright, I’m just going to vent the LSAT out of my psyche in two big comments…

I’m one of the examinees who had three LR sections. Here are a few considerations that argue in favor of the proposition that the hardest was indeed experimental.

First some background. I’ve taken each of PrepTests 62-71 since October, and at least five of PrepTests 40-51 in the week leading up to yesterday’s exam. On *all* of them, I achieved a combined LR score of at least 41 (often a few points higher). Recently, since correcting for a couple of bad habits on a couple of irksome question-types (viz., flaw and principle), and opting to work through the sections backward, I’ve achieved scores of 45+ every time—even on exams with relatively simple AR and RC. It’s my best section (besides RC haha).

Back to yesterday’s LSAT. Although I finished the hard one in time, I was rushed on the last couple questions, and I felt *less-than-certain* on many. Being rushed at the tail-end is often inevitable even for elite examinees, but feeling like I haven’t nailed—with *certainty*—most LR questions is simply unprecedented in my experience. Indeed, even when a LR section has been harder-than-usual, I can’t recall ever thinking, “That was remarkably difficult…”

Another fact that suggests the hardest was experimental is the verified appearance of an esoteric LG-type—circular linear—that hasn’t appeared on a released LSAT since June 1991. In addition to being time-consuming, it’s more importantly a concept most test-takers haven’t been exposed to. (It was doubtless skipped over even by many who purchased all of the old games: I did it two weeks ago on a lark, only because I was bored in the laundromat hahaha.) That in itself is sufficient to make generous the curve. (I certainly finished an unusually small number of questions on AR: the first two games and half of the circular linear game, for a total of fourteen.)http://www.amazon.com/PowerScores-LSAT-Logic-Games-Preparation/dp/0982661827/

Finally, I found a strengthen/weaken question that was quite early in the section to be the toughest of the section. That’s likewise unprecedented. Today I went back through some of my practice exams (old and recent) to try and identify a “killer” that early—happily, to no avail.

The other theme I’d like (more briefly) comment on is how hyperbolic I find most peoples’ reaction to yesterday’s exam to be haha…

The RC section was easier than usual (except for a poorly written comp. passage that still wasn’t particularly difficult).
One LR section was easier than usual.
One LR section (assuming I’m right about the experimental) was utterly unremarkably normal.
… And the LG section had two easy games, one time-consuming and rare easy game (the circular linear one), and one that most of us wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole anyway.

How is that “so much more difficult than___” haha? Most examinees (actually: like, everyone save those who score above 170) only get through three games; and if *I* could get through the two gimmes and half of the circular-linear game, so could you. All told, you probably scored about three points lower on AR than you expected to.

But I harken back to the easy RC and LR sections: You’re telling me most of you didn’t at least “break-even” on that trade-off? Either you’re all illiterate, illogical AR savants*, or you’re all partaking of post-exam “worst-case-thinking.” I’m confident it’s the latter. ;-)

Anyway, so yeah, I don’t understand what all the hub-bub is about. I think you’ll all be pleasantly surprised by your scores. I’m glad it’s over with!! Fingers are crossed for a 164-168.

*Yes, I know that’s an oxymoron, but I think it’s cute and clever so I’m keeping it.

After every LSAT administration–even, e.g., October 2008*–there are inevitably some who suggest that the blame for their (perceived) underperformance lies in the sadism of genius psychometricians–rather than in their own inadequate preparation, inability to execute on game-day, or worst-case-thinking.

The substantive takeaway from my comment should be simple: Unless you are one for whom a 23/23 on LG is necessary to achieving your expected score, the difficulty of the LG section will probably be offset by the relative simplicity of the RC and LR sections; that is to say, *most of us*–myself included–will probably score approximately what we expected to on a moderately generous curve. (Think about it: Virtually every test form has at least one element that makes it stand out, be it a tortuous LG, an uber-dense RC passage, or a particularly convoluted LR section.)

You can name-call like a middle schooler until you’re blue in the face. I’m a grownup*, and so I’m impervious. ;-)

I was warned by the lawyer that I work for that Feb LSAT are the hardest, and boy was he right! The RC wasn’t too bad but the games…holy cow! I prepared extensively read Powerscore and did 26 practice tests all timed. I did the December 2013 and scored 162.

It was one of the hardest copy I came across, mainly the games, that one game, I couldn’t wrap my head around, just picked each randomly…I dont know what Cory is smoking, I wait right here for you with a box of tissu..nobody cant be 100%..if u r makibg yourself feel good, then good on you..

I feel compelled to take a stab at persuading you all that I’m not a “troll,” and that I wasn’t simply trying to “make myself feel good.”

I disagreed with the consensus evaluation of this February’s LSAT’s difficulty-level. So instead of being snarky or belligerent—apt adjectives for describing a “troll”—I offered *my* evaluation: to wit, I (a) made a case for why the hardest LR section for those of us who had three was probably experimental and (b) predicted that most examinees’ raw scores will break-even on the *trade-off* between what everyone agrees was a brutal LG and what I and “D” (and thus presumably many others) believe were “super straightforward” RC and LR sections.

I *sincerely* disagree: My performance is consistent such that I can accurately predict minimum scores on individual sections (I write them in the top corners during exams). On the February LSAT, my overall raw score minimum—which is always too low—was 78, which translates to approximately 163. I don’t deal in pipe-dreams. Like Gordon Gekko, “I bet on sure things.”

Nor am I given to delusions of grandeur. I didn’t describe the exam as a piece of cake, or call anyone stupid for describing it as difficult; rather, after I acknowledged that it included an unusually difficult LG section—on which I *admittedly underperformed*—I argued that many seem to be making too much out of said difficult section, citing three simple propositions: (1) the first two games, which comprised the first eleven questions, were no more difficult than usual, neither of them including a rule-substitution question; (2) most of us—*myself included*—don’t attempt to get through more than three games (and occasionally the beginning of the fourth) anyway, so assuming most of us opted for and got through some of the circular linear game, most of us lost only a few points overall; and (3) the LR and RC sections were relatively easy. On these bases I predicted, in sum, that most of us—*myself included*—will score roughly what we expected to going in.

But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m so talented at RC and LR that I was immune to a difficulty-spike most of you weren’t (I can’t say that with a straight face); perhaps all of you except for “D” are in fact “illiterate LG savants”; it’s possible the adrenaline of actually taking a proctored LSAT resulted in abnormally razor-sharp focus and efficiency on my part; or it could have been the Acai juice I consumed with my oatmeal that morning and the Gatorade Prime I consumed during break.

At all events, I hope more of you will concretely elaborate on why the exam was so vexing for you *on the whole*. That wasn’t my experience—and I’m no genius.

I’ve been studying intensely for the past three months. My initial DT was a 155 and by late December I broke 170 and was consistently scoring 170+ leading up to February’s brutal exam (highest PT a 178). But THIS exam really threw me on a loop. Echoing what others have said, RC was harder than usual with a real crappy dual passage. I didn’t run out of time on any of the sections but I don’t feel confident in all of the answers I chose like I have been for past PT’s. The difficulty of the earlier questions on my first LR section really threw me off and I wasted at least 2 minutes on one question even before Q10. I also noticed a significantly higher number of principle questions (especially since principle strengthen questions are a bitch to get through when strapped on time). I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought the last games section was such a curve ball. It was okay once I treated it like a linear grouping game but who knows. Hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Hope we all get a really nice curve and the scores that we want. Or else hope the June test won’t be so random and straight up rude.

The last circle game can be treated as a linear game for sure, which I didn’t come across when I did it. The possibilities are definite and limited. So it is not actually that difficult when you get the set-up right. Anyway, I just used the somewhat confusing circle setting to do the game and hopefully I may get them right. Wish everyone good luck!

I hope they come back in vogue! Ya know what? Even though it’s my weakest section, I think Analytical Reasoning has become my favorite section now that I’m quite good at games. Just a few minutes ago on the toilet—I shit you not hah—I did game four from PrepTest 33 (December 2000) in 10:24 for fun. I’m honestly addicted… If I keep doing them throughout college and get to a point where I can finish all four, I’ll definitely retake the exam, even if I manage a 167/68 on this one.

LG or AR, whatever you call it, is fun for it’s intellectually challenging in some way. And that just makes it exciting. It’s definitely my favorite part of the test and the sense of accomplishment when the games are tackled is straightforward and strong. I will probably do some of the previous games from time to time just for fun and to keep my brain from being paralyzed by the SNS.

I have taken about 50 of the recent prep-test, but nothing like this feb test. This was definitely a brutal test and I was particularly surprised with the LR sections. I became really good in LR but this test used complicated abstract wording and I spent way too much time re-reading. LG was even worse, like everyone has already mentioned.

I am hoping the curve ends up being something like -50 for 150 but who the hell knows… it was one seriously brutal exam and i didnt even think the logical reasoning was similar to the prep tests i had been doing…

did anyone else notice that principle questions popped up far more often on the reasoning sections on this test? much more frequently than i had prepped for…

Someone once said, “I came. I saw. I conquered.” That dude had never taken the LSAT. If he had, the phrase might have, instead, been something like, “I came. I saw. I turned around and left.”

Thoughts with only a week left before the results shoot everyone in the face:
1. Lucky for Colorado test takers, the past few weeks have been pretty chill–I’m sure.
2. My first child is due next Monday, so whatever the test results might be–I’ll be smiling anyway :)
3. I’ve already been accepted somewhere. Yes, it’s a relief.
4.
5. #4 is for those we’ve lost in the process.
6. Best wishes to you ALL!

Lastly, I can summarize my feelings about this test in the form of a haiku: